Harley Davidson news - will the sales slump continue into the 2009 model year?

[FRED]

Harley Davidson news - will the sales slump continue into the 2009 model year?

No, but H-D can become 'irrelevant' in the marketplace

You are right! Harley is unique, and always will be.... but they've enjoyed a long run during which their products have been in relatively high demand, and could command a premium price... and that was driven by... what? Image? Aging baby-boomer desire to live the fantasy 'biker' life? What's going to replace that lost demand when this "recession" is over?
(By the way, some really smart people are predicting that this recession won't be over until 2015... followed by sharp increases in fuel prices thereafter...)

I can just imagine what all those aging boomers are going to do with their beloved Harley-Davidsons once they enter the managed care facilities. The ensuing sell-off sure won't boost prices. I'm looking forward to picking up some sweet H-D's at bargain prices in a few years...

[GRG55]

Re: Harley Davidson news - will the sales slump continue into the 2009 model year?

Harley Davidson news - will the sales slump continue into the 2009 model year?

No, but H-D can become 'irrelevant' in the marketplace

You are right! Harley is unique, and always will be.... but they've enjoyed a long run during which their products have been in relatively high demand, and could command a premium price... and that was driven by... what? Image? Aging baby-boomer desire to live the fantasy 'biker' life? What's going to replace that lost demand when this "recession" is over?
(By the way, some really smart people are predicting that this recession won't be over until 2015... followed by sharp increases in fuel prices thereafter...)

I can just imagine what all those aging boomers are going to do with their beloved Harley-Davidsons once they enter the managed care facilities. The ensuing sell-off sure won't boost prices. I'm looking forward to picking up some sweet H-D's at bargain prices in a few years...

FRED: I would imagine very few H-D owners use them as their primary means of transport. These bikes must be a discretionary purchase. Boats, snowmobiles, light airplanes, sports cars, and all manner of other expensive "toys" are already falling in price as overlevered consumers need to raise cash. Surely H-D motorcycles can't be exempt, and the bargains are already apparent?

Although, I will agree that the bargains are probably going to become even more plentiful as this mess grinds on, and I too have my eye on one other discretionary item whose US prices I am watching closely.